Pizzeria goes online to save itself
Lou Torres isn’t on Facebook, but as of Jan. 13 he had 6,116 supporters of his failing restaurant on the social networking site. Torres owns Deano’s Pizzarama in Santa Barbara, a 50-year-old landmark heading for closure in the face of an ugly economy and tough competition. He owes his landlord two months in back rent Read More →
Getting better with time
Walking into the Liquor and Wine Grotto in Montecito is like stepping into a mom-and-pop store one would expect to find in Italy. The store has stone floors, vine-covered walls and racks stocked with wines and liquors of every age, origin and price. The front entrance itself resembles a large, wooden wine barrel and lights Read More →
Tech firms get a boost from small business
The economic slump has many small businesses scrambling to cut costs, but as a direct result one group of businesses is getting a boost: information technology firms. As small businesses look for ways to streamline their budgets, tri-county IT firms are seeing a wave of new clients — if they offer the right products and Read More →
Cashing in on a retail trend
If you own a small retail business in a tough economy, every dollar counts. That’s why many small businesses have found that automated teller machines, or ATMs, are quick and easy money-makers. By installing one of the cash-dispensing machines, merchants reap not only the benefits of a small commission every time someone uses it, but Read More →
An idea that holds water
Some innovations seem to be born almost by osmosis; you put the right brains in one room and the great ideas just flow. At least that’s how the idea for Vapur was born. The start-up company, not even a year old, is the producer of a reusable, foldable plastic water bottle by the same name. Read More →
Let them eat cupcakes
Call it comfort food if you will, but cupcakes may just be the perfect recession-proof little indulgences. In the Tri-Counties, cupcake bakeries – or cupcakeries – have proliferated over the past two years, and their owners say they’re only getting more popular. Maybe it’s because the HBO series “Sex and the City” shows its characters Read More →
Zumbox goes coast-to-coast
Westlake Village-based Zumbox, the provider of a Web-based paperless mail platform, said Sept. 22 that it has rolled out its system in San Francisco and Newark, N.J. Zumbox is a more secure version of electronic mail that works by verifying residents’ physical address by mailing them a pass code to turn on their inbox. The Read More →
